Emergency Wall Access Aperture

ABSTRACT

An emergency wall aperture system comprising an aperture frame configured to be arranged in a wall separating a room and a hallway, a first side of the aperture frame being on a room side of the wall, and a second side of the aperture frame being an a hall side of the wall; and a securable flap configured to be secured to the aperture frame and selectively opened from only the room side; wherein the flap is secured to a surface of the frame and configured to only open in a direction away from the room side.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/352,083, filed Jun. 14, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present general inventive concept relates to building security, and, more particularly, to an emergency access aperture to defend against intruders attempting to gain entry into a room.

BACKGROUND

With the alarming number of mass shootings and other such assaults occurring in modern times, especially those in schools, more and more importance is being placed on how to better protect the targets of such acts. While many schools are being equipped with electronic locks in an attempt to prevent potential shooters from gaining access to individual classrooms occupied by children and teachers, unfortunately such locks can be overcome all too easily given the time to do so. Such a situation may be the same in a number of public or private buildings. Therefore, it would be invaluable to implement a system that would allow occupants of a room to be able to deter a shooter or other threat in the brief moments that the perpetrator is attempting to gain access through the door.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, a system is provide which allows an occupant of a room to deliver a deterrent force to a hallway outside the room to help prevent an attacker from attempting to open the door to the room. Various example embodiments of the system include surveillance devices to better inform and/or alert the occupants of the room of such an attacker.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present general inventive concept.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following example embodiments are representative of example techniques and structures designed to carry out the objects of the present general inventive concept, but the present general inventive concept is not limited to these example embodiments. In the accompanying drawings and illustrations, the sizes and relative sizes, shapes, and qualities of lines, entities, and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. A wide variety of additional embodiments will be more readily understood and appreciated through the following detailed description of the example embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A-C illustrate rear perspective views of emergency wall access apertures of a deterrent system according to example embodiments of the present general inventive concept;

FIGS. 2A-C illustrate front perspective views of the example embodiments of FIGS. 1A-C;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the example embodiment of FIG. 1C; and

FIGS. 4A-B illustrate side views of the example embodiments of FIGS. 1A-C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and illustrations. The example embodiments are described herein in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the structures and fabrication techniques described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modification, and equivalents of the structures and fabrication techniques described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. The progression of fabrication operations described are merely examples, however, and the sequence type of operations is not limited to that set forth herein and may be changed as is known in the art, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Also, description of well-known functions and constructions may be simplified and/or omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

Note that spatially relative terms, such as “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

According to various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, an emergency intruder deterrent system is provided that includes a portal or opening or aperture configured to be positioned in a wall shared by a room and a hallway in which a potential intruder may be located. In the descriptions herein, such an aperture may be referred to as an emergency access portal, an emergency wall access aperture, emergency aperture, and so on. A large number of schools are built with block walls that may typically include 8″×16″ blocks, or 12″×16″ blocks, or the like. In various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept the emergency aperture may be configured to fit in the space of one of those blocks, and thus can be installed in new builds or retrofitted into existing structures. It is noted that while the example embodiments described herein are discussed as being positioned in such a block wall, it is understood that the structures can also be fixed to other types of walls, and fixed to, for example, wall studs without departing from the scope of the present general inventive concept.

As one example, in a school setting there will typically be a series of classrooms along at least one side of a hallway. With a series of hall cameras and corresponding monitors located in the respective classrooms, a plurality of teachers can monitor the hallway for intruders, and thus increase the chances of detection and alarm notification by those teachers. In some example systems a series of “dummy” cameras can be included in the hallway surveillance system to distract such an intruder from trying to disable the actual, and disguised, operating cameras. When one or more of the teachers become aware of the intruder and signal the alarm, a control system may actuate electronic locks on all of the classroom doors to secure the rooms before the intruder can gain access. In such a situation, there may be only a limited time before the intruder overcomes the electronic locks and/or doors, so time is of the essence once the intruder has been spotted. With the addition of the emergency apertures described herein, a teacher can deploy a deterrent force through the aperture and into the hallway in the vicinity of the intruder, making it extremely more difficult for the intruder to attempt to get through the door. Therefore, it is evident that such an access aperture would be extremely beneficial and effective in such a situation.

In such an example embodiment, the system and method may involve a small glass bulb hallway camera which is configured to emit a BLUETOOTH® signal, and a large, more traditional in appearance dummy camera. Each classroom on the hallway may have a monitor, set up on a motion sensor, receiving the BLUETOOTH® signal to be able to view the hallway. On an 8″×16″ block wall separating the hall and classroom (or office, etc.), one block approximately four feet from the floor will be removed, and the emergency aperture will be installed in place of the block. The aperture may have a spring-loaded door/flap configured to move upward and outward so a teacher or other personnel can deliver a deterrent force in the direction of the threat. On the classroom/office side, attached to an interior metal flange of the emergency aperture, will be a locking box configured hold the deterrent forces. The locking box may be securable by a barrel lock, or biometric key, or electronic lock with key code access, or the like. The locking box may include a left hand door swinging to the right that is also spring-loaded.

FIGS. 1A-C illustrate rear perspective views of emergency wall access apertures of a deterrent system according to example embodiments of the present general inventive concept. Some of these illustrations are in color, and some have at least partially translucent renderings of some components to aid in understanding the overall structure of the example embodiments. FIGS. 2A-C illustrate front perspective views of the example embodiments of FIGS. 1A-C, FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the example embodiment of FIG. 1C, and FIGS. 4A-B illustrate side views of the example embodiments of FIGS. 1A-C.

As illustrated in these drawings, the emergency aperture or aperture system 10 may comprise a front section 14 that is configured to extend into the wall from the hall side, and a rear section 18 that is configured to extend into the wall from the classroom/office side. In this example embodiment the front section 14 and rear section 18 are configured as male and female portions that partially overlap when tightened together to “squeeze” the perimeter of the hole in the wall on each side of the wall. The front section 14 includes a front top panel 22, a front bottom panel 26, and two front side panels 30, and the rear section 18 includes a rear top panel 38, a rear bottom panel 42, and two rear side panels 46. These panels extend inward into the hole in the wall to form a box or frame of the aperture, and, as described above, at least partially overlap. The front section 14 is configured with a front flange 34 that extends from the perimeter to contact the hall side of the wall when installed, and the rear section 18 is configured with a rear flange 50 that is similarly situated to contact the classroom side of the wall. In various example embodiments the inner panels may only extend from one of the flanges, or may be fitted to separately formed flanges, etc. In this example embodiment, a plurality of coupling nuts 54 are provided in the front section 14 in the corners between each of the front, top and bottom panels proximate the rear of those panels, and are configured to respectively receive threaded fasteners 58 that pass through bolt hole tabs 56 provided in the corners between each of the front, top, and bottom panels of the rear section 18 proximate the rear flange 50. Thus, when the front section 14 is placed in the hole in the wall from the hall side, and the rear section 18 is placed in the hole from the classroom side, by coupling the front section 14 and rear section 18 together with the threaded fasteners 58, the front and rear sections are tightened against the respective surface of the wall so that the aperture cannot be pulled through the wall from either side. It is understood that these sections can be securely coupled to one another in various other ways without departing from the scope of the present general inventive concept.

A door or flap 60 is arranged proximate an outer surface of the front section 14, and may be offset in the direction of the classroom so that an intruder cannot easily pry the flap 60 open. In this example embodiment the flap 60 is coupled to the front top panel 22 by one or more hinges, and may be spring loaded or otherwise biased to swing up and outward when released. A fastener tab 64 is arranged near the bottom and center of the flap 60, and extends inward with a latching member to fix the flap to the front bottom panel 26 in a closed position. FIGS. 1A-B illustrate an example embodiment in which a sliding latch 70 interacts with a slot in the front bottom panel 26 to secure the flap 60 in a closed position, and FIG. 1C illustrates an example embodiment in which a spring loaded pull pin 68 interacts with a pin aperture 72 to secure the flap 60 in the closed position. Other various example embodiments may include a host of different securing members. Thus, while an assailant cannot open the flap 60 from the outside (the hallway), a teacher or other personnel in the classroom can easily and quickly open the latching member, and the flap 60 may be biased to swing up an out so that the teacher has sufficient clearance to easily deploy a deterrent force in the direction of the assailant. Various example embodiments may include a slam latch or other such additional locking systems to keep the flap 60 closed and secured so that an assailant cannot open it from the outside. For example, a slam latch having two extending members fitting into slots in the front side panels 30 may be retracted when the teacher manipulates the securing latch of the flap 60 to open the flap 60. The flap 60 may be configured with a piano hinge with a spring on the flap 60 to facilitate the biased opening action. Various example embodiments may include a latching member that is lockable such that a key is required to open the flap 60.

As illustrated in the drawings, a storage cabinet 76 may be connected to the rear flange 50 or other part of the rear section 18 of the aperture system 10. Various deterrents, such as, for example, tear gas, smoke grenades, concussion grenades, pepper formulation, etc., may be stored inside the storage cabinet 76 for easy access by the teacher. The storage cabinet 76 may include a cabinet door 80 with a lock mechanism 84 configured such that only the teacher or other authorized personnel can open the storage cabinet 76. While the example embodiments in these drawings show a barrel lock or Q-key, various other example embodiments may include biometric locks, or electronic locks with keyless entry or access codes, etc., without departing from the scope of the present general inventive concept. In various example embodiments the storage cabinet may be formed integrally with the rear flange 50 of the rear section 18 of the aperture system 10, and thus cannot be removed from the overall system.

As previously described, the present general inventive concept is not limited to block walls. For example, the system can be built with, or retro-fitted to, a dry wall or other such wall. The flanges of the system may be formed as connecting plates to be secured to wall studs for structural integrity.

Numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. For example, regardless of the content of any portion of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for the inclusion in any claim herein or of any application claiming priority hereto of any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence of such activities, or any particular interrelationship of such elements. Moreover, any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any element can be duplicated.

It is noted that the simplified diagrams and drawings included in the present application do not illustrate all the various connections and assemblies of the various components, however, those skilled in the art will understand how to implement such connections and assemblies, based on the illustrated components, figures, and descriptions provided herein, using sound engineering judgment. Numerous variations, modification, and additional embodiments are possible, and, accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept.

While the present general inventive concept has been illustrated by description of several example embodiments, and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the general inventive concept to such descriptions and illustrations. Instead, the descriptions, drawings, and claims herein are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and additional embodiments will readily appear to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description and drawings. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept. 

1. An emergency wall aperture system comprising: an aperture frame configured to be arranged in a wall separating a room and a hallway, a first side of the aperture frame being on a room side of the wall, and a second side of the aperture frame being an a hall side of the wall; and a securable flap configured to be secured to the aperture frame and selectively opened from only the room side; wherein the flap is secured to a surface of the frame and configured to only open in a direction away from the room side.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lockable storage cabinet connected to the aperture frame on the room side and configured to one or more deterrent force items inside.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the aperture frame includes a front flange configured to contact the wall on the hall side, and a rear flange configured to contact the wall on the room side.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the aperture frame is configured with a front section and a rear section that are configured to be coupled together to provide tension force on the respective hall and room sides of the wall.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the flap is configured to be biased to open out into the hall when unsecured from the aperture frame. 